Patents Assigned to TRW Automotive GmbH
  • Publication number: 20190176879
    Abstract: An all-wheel steering system for a motor vehicle is described which has an active front axle steering system and an active rear axle steering system. The front axle steering system includes a gear ratio unit which is coupled to a steering wheel. The gear ratio unit is configured to define a front axle steering angle as a function of a steering wheel angle and a front axle steering ratio. In addition, the gear ratio unit is coupled to the rear axle steering system in such a way that the front axle steering ratio is adjustable as a function of a rear axle steering angle. Further, a motor vehicle having such an all-wheel steering system is discussed. Also presented is a method of operating an all-wheel steering system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Bergmann
  • Patent number: 10315650
    Abstract: A control system and corresponding control method which is adapted and intended for use in an own vehicle for detecting one or more objects based on environmental data obtained from one or more environmental sensors disposed at the vehicle. The environmental sensors are adapted to provide an electronic control unit of the control system with the environmental data which reflect the areas in front of, laterally next to and/or behind the vehicle. The control system is at least adapted and intended for detecting at least one object by means of the environmental sensors during a predetermined period of time or continuously. A movement of each detected object is determined. The presence of a rotational part in the movement of at least one object is identified, and when a rotational part is present, a probability of an occurrence of a collision between the corresponding object and the own vehicle is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Class, Karl-Heinz Glander, Martin Seyffert
  • Patent number: 10315616
    Abstract: In a locking tongue (10) for a seat belt comprising an inserting portion (12) adapted to be inserted in a belt buckle and a deflecting portion (14) for webbing, wherein the deflecting portion (14) includes a webbing passage (20) as well as a clamping element (22) for the webbing and the clamping element (22) is movable between a home position in which the webbing is freely movable and a blocking position in which the clamping element is moved against a wall of the webbing passage so that the webbing is clamped between the clamping element (22) and the wall of the webbing passage (20), and wherein at least one spring element (34) is provided for forcing the clamping element (22) into the home position, it is provided that the spring element (34) is formed integrally on the deflecting portion (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Ralf Knoedl
  • Patent number: 10308279
    Abstract: A fluid container, in particular a hydraulic tank for a motor pump unit, has an equalizing chamber that is adapted to contain a supply of fluid and air, and at least one return chamber into which a return flow of the fluid can flow, a fluid communication being provided between the return chamber and the equalizing chamber. The return chamber is provided with a suction port for a pump, in particular of the motor pump unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Moczala, Gilbert Hesmer
  • Patent number: 10293836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle assistant system of a vehicle comprising at least a first camera and a second camera, wherein the first camera is arranged such that the area in front of the vehicle can at least partially be captured, and wherein the second camera is arranged such that the interior of the vehicle can at least partially be captured, and wherein the vehicle assistant system comprises one common image data analysis unit which is configured to process image data received from the first camera and the second camera. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle assistant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Laakmann, Swen Schaub, Christian Mücke, Christian Ammon, Thomas Herpich
  • Patent number: 10292659
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle operating element (12) comprising a sensor (14) for non-invasive measurement of biomolecules in the blood of an operator of a vehicle operating element (12) by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, comprising at least one antenna (16) which includes at least a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer and an insulating layer being sandwiched between the two conductive layers. By means of the second conductive layer an excitation signal can be coupled out and an off-resonance excitation signal can be coupled into the antenna (16). Furthermore, a method of non-invasive measurement of biomolecules and a method of operating a vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Guido Hirzmann, Martin Seyffert, Raymond Glocker, Chunnan Chen, Hendrik Dietrich
  • Patent number: 10285473
    Abstract: A locking tongue for a seat belt has a deflecting portion for a webbing. The deflecting portion includes a webbing passage and a clamping element. The clamping element is displaceable between a home position in which the webbing is freely movable and a blocking position in which the clamping element is displaced against a wall of the webbing passage so that the webbing is clamped between the clamping element and the wall of the webbing passage. The clamping element includes a clamping surface which in the blocking position clamps the webbing against the wall of the webbing passage. The clamping element is guided along a curved guide path extending in an area of the blocking position substantially perpendicularly to the wall so that in the blocking position the clamping element is moved against the wall substantially perpendicularly with the clamping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoedl
  • Patent number: 10279772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt buckle feeder (10) for a seat belt system of a vehicle comprising at least one spindle (14), comprising at least one bearing element (24), the bearing element (24) being arranged on one end of the spindle (14), and comprising at least one bearing surface (13) to which the bearing element (24) is adjacent, wherein the bearing element (24) is resiliency mounted to the spindle (14) such that in the case of loads above a predefined threshold the end (16) of the spindle (14) may enter into contact with the bearing surface (13) or a housing wall of the belt buckle feeder (10). Furthermore the present invention relates to a seat belt system of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Klein
  • Patent number: 10279773
    Abstract: On a belt tensioner cable guide member (10) comprising a guide duct (42) for a cable of a belt tensioner and comprising a pressure duct (40) for fluid communication between an inflator and a pressure chamber to which a displacement body to be driven and being coupled to the cable is assigned, a first sealing element (44) sealing the guide duct (42) against the cable and especially enclosing the cable in the peripheral direction is provided within the guide duct (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Dominik Seitzer
  • Publication number: 20190118861
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering assembly having a steering shaft which extends from a vehicle steering wheel to a pinion and is rotatable about a steering axis, a combined steering angle and steering torque sensor which includes sensor elements connected to the steering shaft for joint rotation therewith, and a housing upper part of a multipart steering gear housing which closes, on the steering wheel side, a housing lower part for receiving the pinion, the housing lower part being open in the axial direction towards the vehicle steering wheel, the combined steering angle and steering torque sensor being received in the housing upper part, the steering shaft extending through the housing upper part, and the sensor elements connected to the steering shaft for joint rotation therewith being directly adjacent to the housing upper part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Jaekel, Robert Engler
  • Patent number: 10266146
    Abstract: A belt buckle feeder comprises a base (12) adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle and a carriage (14) being movably supported on the base (12) to which carriage a belt buckle (20) can be coupled and which can be moved by a drive arranged on the base (12). The drive includes an electric motor (26) and a worm gear comprising a worm shaft (34) which has a worm (36) as well as drive spur wheel teeth (40), with the shaft (28) of the electric motor (26) including a pinion (30) which is engaged in the drive spur wheel teeth (40) and drives the worm shaft (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Klaassen, Karl Birk
  • Patent number: 10264856
    Abstract: A belt buckle for a vehicle seat belt. The belt buckle includes a frame in which at least one locking element adapted to lock a plug-in tongue insertable into the belt buckle and an ejection element adapted to eject the plug-in tongue are provided. Each of the ejection element and the locking element is adapted to adopt a locked position and a home position. The locking element is adjacent to a web of the ejection element in the home position and thus blocked in its home position. The front end of the web has a ramp-like bearing surface against which the locking element slidingly engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Hans-Peter Betz
  • Patent number: 10253845
    Abstract: A method for connecting a wire cable to a cable shoe for a belt buckle mounting comprises the steps of: pre-bending a retaining portion of the cable shoe to form an eye; inserting the wire cable into the eye; extruding the retaining portion so that the outer periphery thereof is reduced. The extrusion of the retaining portion is carried out as impact extrusion, wherein a form closure is produced between the retaining portion and the wire cable. The impact extrusion is carried out by a tool including at least one edge-free first seat for the eye. An apparatus for connecting a wire cable to a cable shoe for a belt buckle mounting comprises a first tool half including a first seat for a retaining portion of the cable shoe pre-bent into an eye and an opposed second tool half including a second seat for the retaining portion. The two tool halves can be forced against each other with high pressure so that the material of the retaining portion starts to flow. At least the first seat is free from edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Seitz
  • Patent number: 10246040
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module comprising a housing (14) for an airbag (16) and a cover (12), the housing including a fabric part (14) which at least partly encloses the airbag (16), characterized in that means (20; 30; 60) for fastening the housing (14) which are formed integrally with the cover (12) are provided and in that the fabric part (14) is arranged directly on the fastening means (20; 30; 60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Elija, Werner Freisler, Sven Tamme
  • Patent number: 10246088
    Abstract: A control system which for use in a host motor vehicle is configured and intended for recognizing motor vehicles traveling ahead, to the side, and/or behind and preferably stationary objects situated ahead, based on surroundings data obtained from at least one surroundings sensor associated with the host motor vehicle. The at least one surroundings sensor is configured for providing an electronic controller of the control system with surroundings data that represent an area in front of, next to, or behind the host motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Keller, Christian Goette, Torsten Bertram, Andreas Homann, Christian Wissing, Karl-Heinz Glander, Carsten Hass, Till Nattermann, Markus Buss
  • Patent number: 10246118
    Abstract: A clamping device for a longitudinally adjustable and/or height-adjustable steering column of a vehicle, having a device part and an actuating part which is movable relative to the device part between a release position, in which the steering column is longitudinally adjustable and/or height-adjustable, and a fixing position, in which the steering column is neither longitudinally adjustable nor height-adjustable, a damping unit being provided for damping a relative movement between the device part and the actuating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Baumeister, Kai Grebe, Magnus Loyen
  • Patent number: 10234478
    Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction or defect of a sensor of a vehicle safety device uses a control unit of the vehicle safety device and at least one self-testing sensor which is separate from the control unit and transmits measuring values to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Weiland, Paul Melton, Carl A. Munch, Oliver Buntz, Matthias Webert
  • Patent number: 10227057
    Abstract: In a method for identifying misuse of a seat belt in a vehicle, vehicle data are detected and, based on said data, a plausibility check is performed for determining whether the seat belt is fastened as intended. Signals of at least one belt buckle sensor and of at least one webbing extension sensor are detected and a plausibility check for misuse is performed by taking the time course of the signals and/or the point in time of input of the signals into account so as to make a comparison with stored reference data. A seat belt system in a vehicle for carrying out said method comprises at least one belt buckle sensor and at least one webbing extension sensor as well as at least one seat occupation sensor, one door sensor, one vehicle acceleration sensor and/or one vehicle speedometer as well as a control unit in which the signals of the sensors are stored and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
  • Patent number: 10207712
    Abstract: Control system, which is adapted for application in a vehicle and intended to detect following vehicles on the basis of environmental data which are obtained from one or several environmental sensors disposed on the vehicle. The environmental sensors are adapted to provide an electronic controller of the control system with the environmental data which reflect the area in front of, laterally next to and/or behind the vehicle. The control system is at least adapted and intended to detect one or several other vehicles participating in traffic behind the own vehicle with the environmental sensors. A lane associated with each other vehicle, in which the other vehicle(s) drive(s), is detected. An occupancy of the own lane and/or of at least one adjacent lane by the other vehicle(s) is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Monika Schaper, Hrachia Grigorians, Karl-Heinz Glander
  • Publication number: 20190047606
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicants: TRW Limited, TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Dite, Niclas Davies, Markus Lingemann